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never mind. Just read this. After all these years. I get it just a little more
93,
You may enjoy SpeechintheSilence.com, a podcast on Thelema and such.
Also this is a good suggested reading list for just getting into Crowley.
You may also enjoy my blog on Thelema.
93 93/93
Prometheus Rising was made just for this reason. It's a quick and entertaining read that can be read in about two days. It builds up, so you want to read through it in order, but it builds up to how religious beliefs are programmed and how to program yourself any which way you want. The goal of the book is to be able to gain the ability to meta-program yourself. Also, in many circles it's a prerequisite for meta magick, if you care about that sort of thing.
Some, though not all, of the cheaper versions of "Book 4" and sometimes "Magick in Theory and Practice" and "Equinox of the Gods" alone, are terrible. These bad ones are clearly publications of versions found online and have terrible formatting and punctuation.
There are also well formatted versions of Parts I&II as well as MiTaP and EotG, but are just those parts.
The "big blue brick" is usually $60-70 on Amazon, and in my humble opinion, is worth it. You get Parts 1-4. You get amazing annotations. You also get a boatload of Libers you will want in the Appendix. See the Table of Contents inside "Look Inside!" on Amazon.
tl;dr Shorter versions often are just Parts I&II, or are really shitty. The big blue brick is awesome.
UPDATE: "We've hit $2,000 and gone some past. Amazing! Thank you to everyone who donated. If we need additional funds once we have done all the repairs we'll let you know. Thank you so much!" -SML
source: https://www.facebook.com/sekhetmaat/posts/10150250908749425
Here's an update with more information about the incident, and donation information.
There is an app (funnily enough) called Pranayama (and a paid version which you can customise a lot more) which I found years ago which can give you audio and visual feedback on the breathing cycles. I found it was very useful for the timing (rhythm) of it all. As for how full? Very full but not painfully full would be my best suggestion from my experience.
This is the Android (Free) version - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.saagara.universalpranayamafree
Crowley had a problem with that.. But he's much more comprehensible than some. I see a lot of other replies here saying he purposely coded them to be hard to read.. which isn't entirely true. Crowley actually just believed that most of the people reading his material, were just more cerebral than they actually are.
Gurdjieff for example was known to write things even his own close followers had trouble reading, to the point he would rewrite things if they were too easily understood.
I would say just keeping reading, and eventually you will start to understand it. While it can be hard at first, things will start to click eventually, if you keep at it. Re-read the books if needed. Read a chapter and spend time thinking about it before moving on. If it's still just out of your grasp, take a look at some of the works of his students. There are some great breakdowns that are easier to comprehend from people that worked directly with him.
I would actually suggest this book, the Three Dangerous Magi which isn't going to teach you magick, but might help you find a path that makes the most sense for you. The book is a look at the teachings of Osho, Gurdjeiff and Crowley. I can't recoomend the book enough actually.. It is a great read.
Im more of an aristotle fan myself tbh. Sometimes I read the same things as traders at work, like Thucydides and The Art of War.
Tbh, I was never really into Nietzsche except at age 13 when I was like "God is dead huehuehuehuehue". "The Will To Power" reminded me of a hip hop ethos.
Study the Quran. Learn to meditate. And I also do intermittent fasting.
Start now. It doesn't matter if you don't do it right the first time: it took Crowley three goes to do the Abramelin operation properly.
Besides which, the sooner you start, the sooner you will get a realistic idea of what it's like, so you will no longer have to speculate.
Alex Sumner
Author of Conjuring Demons for Pleasure and Profit: an Abramelin Memoir
Heh, Crowley went so far as to leave conflicting opinions in annotations in his oft-used inspiration sources, such as his copy of the yi-king (pic. from this link )
Take what resonates with you! Taking time to consider an issue that especially goes against your own beliefs can really help expand one's perspective!
Another recently published investigation of the thirty aires can be found in Robin E. Cousins, Exploring Enochian Worlds (Thoth Publications, 2021).
I think there are relatively few published accounts because the results tend to be personal. Knowledge of what occurred is not necessarily useful or beneficial to anyone other than the practitioner: disclosure can be counter-productive if it causes expectation in the mind of a reader of what might arise and influences their own results. The best advice I can offer is to approach it with an open mind and try not to compare your own experiences with those recorded by others. There are no 'right' answers here.
In regards to getting a vasectomy, Lon Milo DuQuette has written about this:
​
>First of all, there are certain “sexual-based magical operations” that a
vasectomy WILL render ineffective or highly problematic.
>
>They include:
Workings in which the object of the operation is to become the biological
father of a child. *
Workings in which the object of the operation is the fertilization of a
human egg. *
Workings in which the object of the operation involves magically charging
or otherwise altering a living sperm cell. *
Any work that would require the male operator to believe with
the unshakable conviction that his body is presently capable of producing and
issuing live sperm cells. *
Any biological, chemical, or alchemical procedure or experiment requiring
one’s own living sperm cells.
>
Other “Sex Magick” operations (which in my opinion is most of them), in
which semen (either by itself or in combination with other substances) is used
as a medium, material base, or talisman should not be affected by your
vasectomy unless your anxiety and doubts over the matter cloud or otherwise
distract your ability to concentrate on the object of the operation.
It's a great book.
If you read between the lines with these earlier methods (such as Abramelin or Liber Samekh), there are two core components:
1.- Detachment from the world and silence in the mind. Banishment, long retreat or otherwise strong disconnection from worldly reality, and so on.
Quoted from "The Path of High Magic: Deciphering Liber Samekh": "A widely mythologised story in Thelema tells how Karl Germer achieved his Knowledge and Conversation in a Nazi concentration camp. This is often referred to as a triumph of the will, to teach the aspirant that his circumstances can be no worse than Karl's. But it is more interesting to turn this idea upside down; it is precisely this terrible situation that would have removed Karl Germer from normal reality, so that it would have served as the perfect catalyst for him to become entwined with his HGA."
2.- Silence is not enough. A certain intensity to trascend the astral is needed, which is what "Inflame thyself in prayer" refers to. Although in a way, this also points to the fact that the magician must exhaust his normal consciousness to such an extent that the HGA can emerge. If you read "Of the Invocation" in Liber ABA, it gives some clues as to how sex magick can be used for this.
Nevertheless, when you are close to attaining Knowledge and Conversation, you should have some level of communication with your HGA, who can point you in the right direction.
High Magick: A Guide to the Spiritual Practices That Saved My Life on Death Row
Set to music here but I believe some of it is just AC. Ψ ♾️ ॐ
Living Thelema by David Shoemaker. A well rounded book from a Thelemite with direct lineage. He is a disciple of the late Phyliss Seckler whom learned from Jane Wolfe whom learned directly from Aleister Crowley. Although Thelema is not limited to David's beliefs and lineage, it is a good place to start.
https://www.amazon.com/Living-Thelema-Practical-Attainment-Aleister-ebook/dp/B09T9J68WM
Maybe read "Magick in Theory and Practice" by Crowley.
Or you could read "Eight Lectures on Yoga" by Aleister Crowley.
These are now my "go to" intro books.
This post is so lovely! I really like the way you wrote it.
I. If you are interested in "reading up", there's a book called Holy Guardian Angel, where people who allegedly attained wrote about Liber Samekh, Abramelin, their own methods, etc. https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Guardian-Angel-Michael-Cecchetelli/dp/0983063990 Generally I would recommend Initiation in the A.'.A.'., but it might be a little too early to talk about it.
As for II. and III., Book 4, which you wrote you have at your disposal, should be really helpful. But it is quite lengthy, so are you eager to start practicing or can you spend time (a few weeks) reading first?
The Equinox Kindle version is available on amazon, if u search for "the equinox crowley" u can find Volume 1 books in kindel version at a very low price. This is Vol 1 N1 for example https://www.amazon.com/Equinox-Vol-No-English-ebook/dp/B0827YLMWG (hoping this isn't spam or against the thread's rules).
You should get a daily ritual and meditation practice.
living thelema - espanol - David Shoemaker’s book
Ahh, clumsy wording. I knew OF Aiwass. But awareness of something is all it takes to breath life into it in a way. What was self esteem called before the 50's when it became a qualitative feature of ones self image? Was someone just sad? Or a coward? Awareness is the creation of anything by giving it credence. Being Aiwass is ethereal, I'd imagine hes sustained better by being known to become more than a fart in the wind. There's saying you die twice- the day you die, and the last time your name is spoken.
That is fucking awesome! Frreal, I would love to visit as you seem to have. Some say dreams are conscious interpretations of what our astral body is up to so you may in fact have been gracing its grand dewy decimal system when dreaming this. Ive experienced it while reading this book. While reading it, something took place I could feel but I didn't see it. I was literally soul searching in SE Asia and my next destination in Bali was exactly where I was meant to be after reading it- I just didnt know it at the time.
> Is that your point?
One of my points, yeah.
> I hope you’ve learned that your argumentative style is highly flawed.
Only if you don't care for actual discussion.
> I’d love to know what it is you’re trying to tell me.
Then all you need to do is stop being lazy and actually read, instead of expecting short answers which address none of the 'meat' of the issue.
> What’s the name of the podcast? I want to hear you quote every sentence your guests say back to them.
One would think you'd know the difference between a text discussion and speech, but evidently not. Here: https://anchor.fm/big-boss-podcast/
Invitation is still open, fwiw.
I’d also suggest Unexplained’s take: http://www.unexplainedpodcast.com/episodes/2018/3/20/s03-episode-1-we-are-the-witchcraft-pt1-of-3
Last Podcast on the Left did an episode too: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/550-last-podcast-on-the-left-28287464/episode/episode-261-l-ron-hubbard-part-30457742/
I've used an app called Script Rehearser. just entering the text needed, helped me to retain it. additionally, the pro feature allows for voice recording. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rehearser.rehearser3free
For TVATV -plus a lot more besides- you can grab yourself a copy of Gems From The Equinox
Gems from the Equinox: Instructions by Aleister Crowley for His Own Magical Order https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1578634172/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WHV5JZ5WSTY59XKA0W9Z
Are you trying to bookmark it in Reddit or download it to your device? Both are possible.
I’m on the iOS app and in the top right there is an icon of a flag next to three dots. The flag saves it to your favorites in Reddit.
Some videos you can download on a Reddit video download site, but this one is a YouTube link. You can download the full video by copying the video link and pasting it here:
This is an independent site that sometimes opens a pop up ad when you hit “GO” but just close it and go back to the page you were on and it should have a real download link. Right click it and “download linked file” and you be good to go!
Thelema and Freemasonry are both solid traditions in the Western esoteric tradition. I swore on the Holy Bible. Philosophers focus on the universals, not so much distracted by sectarian trivialities. The core of Masonry is not specifically Christian whatsoever. Esoteric reading means identifying the essential archetypes, which can be represented using any vocabulary; Christian, Thelemic, chemical, Star Wars, or whatever the audience can comprehend.
Amazon Link to print and eBook, if you can't afford, send me a DM and I'd be happy to send you the PDF for free.
The OTO does not want to publish Crowley books any longer. These commentaries, some of which appeared in a text published in the 1970s, are going to create headaches for people now, because even when they are censored, they are not PC.
https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Philosophical-Commentaries-Book-Law/dp/0919690017
My thinking about Freemasons aligns with this documentary
https://www.amazon.com/33-Beyond-Royal-Art-Freemasonry/dp/B084G9WFRC
I don't believe they secretly run the world, but I do believe some powerful people are members and joining can help you make connections. As for lodges, every lodge is unique. Some are probably great. A few might be bad.
As for Thelema, we have 3 main organizing bodies. If you like churchy groups there is the EGC. If you like lodges there is the OTO. And if you like studying your ass off in a room alone there is AA. There are Thelemites who are solo or form offshoot groups as well.
93
I am a member of OTO, and I definitely think joining could be helpful, especially for being exposed to new topics, but I'll be the first to say here that you don't need to join an order like OTO to do what you are talking about. Helpful maybe, but not required.
Pathworking on the Tree of Life takes a variety of forms and methods, but boils down to exploring/meditating-on/using the 22 paths and 10 sephiroth and visualization them. The paths and sephiroth are often referred together just as the 32 paths when it comes to pathworking.
It's not just tarot cards that are attributed to the paths of the Tree. There are a huge amount of traditional associations. Consider checking out Crowley's 777 for tables upon tables of attributions.
I'd also suggest researching both the Path of the Flaming Sword and the Serpent of Wisdom for paths through the Tree of Life. There's an overwhelming amount of miscellanea from qabalah that might be helpful, but don't try to digest it all at once. If you're really into tarot, I'd consider picking up a copy of "The Qabalistic Tarot" by Robert Wang. Firstly, it's a great and useful book, but secondarily, there's just enough core qabalistic stuff in the first few chapters to seed your mind for further research maybe. I use my copy as much as I use The Book of Thoth.
I hope this helps a little. Good luck on your path.
93 93/93
For an overview of Crowley, Thelema, philopsophy, and some ritual, I always recommend "Thelema: An Introduction to the Life, Work & Philosophy of Aleister Crowley", by Colin Campbell. There are plenty of intro books out there. I like this one because of the breadth covered, and yet, still being fairly succinct.
Also, check the post that is pinned to the top of this subreddit. It contains a suggested reading list, as well as other hints for beginners.
93
Qabalah is a broad topic. For beginners I usually suggest these books:
- Start with "The Chicken Qabalah of Rabbi Lamed Ben Clifford" by Lon Milo DuQuette. It will cover basic concepts of qabalah, has nice and big illustrations of the Hebrew letters, and is a joy to read. If you really are starting at zero, you may not even realize why this book is so amazing, 'cause you aren't yet aware of the breadth of everything out there!
- After that, I strongly suggest "Qabalah: A Magical Primer" by John Bonner. There is simply no better primer - it doesn't just call itself that, it really a primer. Like I would suggest Edith Hamilton's "Mythology", if someone needed a non-dumbed down primer on Mythology, I suggest this book for Qabalah. It's not an easy book, but the source material itself is spread across so many books, from so many centuriues, from so many teachers, approaching Qabalah can be difficult. This book will help you to learn the major concepts of Qabalah, especially as applies to magical practice, without dumbing it down.
93 93/93
>I actually had a sponsor that contacted them for me
Do you mean an existing member you happened to know reached out to the local body near you? Was that member then also a local member of that body? I've had situations where someone was "referred" to us (e.g. moving from another state), but that's not the most common thing. I would actually meet local members before focussing much on being a member yourself.
The Man of Earth Triad is the first 5 degrees of OTO, from 0° through IV° (see USGL page on initiation here).
Sounds like the secretary could have handled it better, but I would suggest not attributed malice where there may be none. If you seek initiation in OTO, I hope you get to do that someday.
There are LOTS of beginner materials. Start with the links in the pinned post at the top of this subreddit. I usually recommend "Thelema: An Introduction to the Life, Work & Philosophy of Aleister Crowley", by Colin Campbell as a catch-all intro book (has some history, some pointers, some ritual, etc). There's so many other suggestions, but it's hard to know what to suggest without a little bit more specificity -- qabalah? tarot? astrology? mysticism? yoga? etcetera.
It sounds like your motivations are a little unusual, as you said you are driven to get to know “Crowley, the man”. For that, I want to recommend a short novella the he wrote called “diary of a drug fiend”. It is fictional, but paints a general idea of his real lifestyle from his perspective in a very digestible way, without dealing with hardcore technical methods of magick, etc.
Also his own autobiography, “the confessions of Aleister Crowley” is written very playfully, though could be overkill for what you’re looking for. It’s harder to find but worth it. Both of these can be found free online as well.
Diary of a Drug Fiend and Other Works by Aleister Crowley https://www.amazon.com/dp/178828559X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_GW368W3DWWZ4NXVXHC6B
The Confessions of Aleister Crowley: An Autohagiography https://www.amazon.com/dp/0140191895/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_J3X8R1TW6JVVKF7K0JBK
Might I recommend some of the Biographies on Crowley then.
These can give you a deep sense of who he was without dragging you down into the magick, philosophy and other things. He also has his own "autobiography" you can read.
Richard Kaczynski did an in depth scholarly biography of Crowley in his book "Perdurabo" which you find Here
So, as you do, I have a very nice set of tools that I handcrafted. (I must admit, not as nice looking as yours. You have some amazing craftsmanship) I also would feel very strange posting pictures of them on the internet, sort of like posting a dick-pick.
I also find that I basically never use those tools, but instead find myself using a set of "everyday carry" tools that I keep. My EDC tools are a lighter, a small pill vial, a pocket knife, and my wallet (with a sticker on it). Each of them is doing double duty as a mundane tool as well, but because I always have them they end up seeing way more use most of the time. Does anyone else here EDC a set of tools?
I could give you a ton of suggestions.. But I'll give you one more, that's one of my favorites.
I use a similar app (Android, and may exist in IOS) called Pranayama
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.saagara.universalpranayamafree
I started with the free version (works great) but upgraded to the paid version as it gave me more control over the timing of what I wanted to do.
Although these days, I mostly use "prayer beads" and internal timing - but the app helped get the practice fairly solid without having to think about timing.
>So a fraternal order is more like the Freemason / Rosecrution order (men only Im assuming)
The OTO admits both Men and Women.
​
>while the HOGD is passing down occult knowledge from one member to the next?
The OTO's initiatory track, the M∴M∴M∴ reveals certain mysteries to the initiate over time, which is the essence of what you are talking about here.
​
>How does Crowley come into all of this when did the schism of the HOGD to Thelema happen?
Crowley was in the GD before it crumbled. There was no schism between the GD and OTO or Thelema in general, as Thelema came later. Internal schisms caused the GD to crumble. Of the few splinter groups that kinda remain, or the reimagined versions, I only know of one that has a comically outrageous beef with Crowley or Thelema.
The GD was a major influence in both the OTO after Crowley became a leader, and then eventually the head fo OTO, but Crowley did not found OTO. It was also a major influence in the A∴A∴, Crowley's student-teacher style spiritual order (that he did found).
I suggest reading Perdurabo if you're curious about Crowley in a biographical sense.
>Empire of Angels
I've not checked it out.
I recommend https://www.amazon.com/Arch-Conjuror-England-John-Dee/dp/0300194099
The guy did a lot of original research, like he found the bits about him being ordained a priest.
Weiser publishes a nice, simple, inexpensive paperback edition. Here it is on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Law-Aleister-Crowley/dp/0877283346
It's also contained within a lot of other books you'll probably end up buying if you get into Thelema. Book 4 & Gems from the Equinox come immediately to mind. Both contain T*he* Book of the Law as well as many other foundational writings.
If you're looking for help understanding the content of the book, the standard place to start is Crowley's commentaries, most readily available as The Law is for All. I'd recommend the edition edited by Israel Regardie. It's out of print, but I'm sure you can find a copy for under $50 USD, if you shop around.
All easy enough to find online digital, but ‘Gems from the Equinox’ comes as a beautiful big hardback block, which is a lovely thing to own:
https://www.amazon.com/Gems-Equinox-Instructions-Aleister-Crowley/dp/1578634172
Some self-promotion ...
Tattva cards / visualizations is a feature already in my app, “Thelema 93” iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/thelema-93/id1523191122 , Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.noonshy.thelema.thelema_app&hl=en_US .
It’s handy to have a reference when beginning. After a bit, when the focus is developed, one should be able to visualize the tattvas strongly. I used them in my mediation to work on dharana and overall focus, as well as simply practice of visualization.
Not exactly to your specs, but I’m sure if you look on amazon for a few you can find something to work.
https://www.amazon.com/Beast-666-Life-Aleister-Crowley/dp/1899828214
Thanks for the Perdurabo recommendation, I'll look into to that, saw it on Audible. Where did you start out, when reading on your own?
This is the actual text written by Crowley to accompany the deck.
> I'm just hoping for some general education
Read the Book of the Law. If you're interested still after that you could move onto Book 4 or maybe Crowley's thoughts about the Book of the Law in The Law is for All.
pearls of Wisdom by James eshelman
I think this is a great intro book for Thelema and a great reference for a solitary practitioner. Has a copy of The book of the Law and a couple other things needed for daily practice
Here's an amazon link for you: https://www.amazon.com/Thelema-Introduction-Philosophy-Aleister-Crowley/dp/0738751049
I am brand new to the theory of Thelema. I was overwhelmed by the amount of material, all of which seemed to be absolutely mystically esoteric. From a bit of study and opinion I found that Book 4 is the magnum opus for Aleister Crowley's work, and was written as a straight forward guide; understandable to beginners and full enough to continue improving the adept. Last week I purchased the second revised edition and could not be more pleased with my introduction to Thelema. This is where I recommend to begin. I have not set it down since it arrived and have gone from a minor curiosity to a full study of each text it references; many of which are included within it's appendix.
Magick: Liber ABA, Book 4 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0877289190/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_XL0OAbWWKM3BR It is a sizeable book with a price to match, but it is the corner stone; beautiful and durable I will add.
Every book recommended for students can be found here as well. http://www.astrumargenteum.org/en/library/
Some of the books are not linked in the A.'.A.'. website, but can be found in a quick copy paste the title Google search.
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
The Nu-sphere is a substitute for the LBRP developed by Thelemite Rodney Orpheus. He wrote a very popular book on Thelemic Magick called "Abrahadabra." It appears in his book, https://www.amazon.com/Abrahadabra-Understanding-Aleister-Crowleys-Thelemic/dp/1578633265
but you can find the ritual instructions at: http://rodneyorpheus.com/magick/nusphere.html
One thing you may notice in this ritual is that the elements don't match the "typical" order and the ritual goes counter-clockwise instead of the LBRP clockwise. Neither of these things are an issue, especially once you understand ritual construction. It takes its cue on this point from Liber Reguli and the revised Liber XXV: The Star Ruby that can be found in Liber ABA and Gems from the Equinox, and the original version of Liber XXV in The Book of Lies chapter 25.
I am very familiar with the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn and am working with their material in conjunction with other order work. I admit, I do not like their Thelemic version of the LBRP and would just as soon use either the original, the Star Ruby, or the Nu-Sphere instead. Don't get me wrong, their revised LBRP isn't BAD, I just don't like how it feels and honestly I far prefer the Star Ruby instead (which is suggested learning for the Neophyte in the TOGD anyhow).
Love is the law, love under will.
Try The Sangreal Sacrament by William Gray.
Get the Blue Brick.
I can confirm that, this app is really great, offers a thelemic time widget with moon phases, reminders, yoga techniques, integration of MagickalDiary and several other features.
Furthermore the author, Fra. TauNun, is a nice guy who also takes suggestions for improvements and implements them. The app is updated regularly.